RP rebels demand $10m for release of U.S. hostage
RP rebels demand $10m for release of U.S. hostage
ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP): The Abu Sayyaf rebels have demanded US$10 million for the release of an American kidnapped this week in the southern Philippines despite a U.S. refusal to pay any ransom, negotiators said on Friday.
The Abu Sayyaf rebels, who earlier threatened to behead Jeffrey Schilling, pledged not to harm him while negotiations continue. They asked that American food and medicine be sent quickly for the 24-year-old resident of Oakland, California, who has serious health problems, according to U.S. officials.
"You must send today medicine and food because you know this American doesn't eat cassava," rebel spokesman Abu Sabaya told newly appointed government negotiator Roland Sarmiento.
The two spoke in a telephone conversation broadcast over the Radio Mindanao Network.
Sabaya did not mention the $10 million request or make any other new formal demands in the conversation, although he had earlier said the group would present its demands on Friday.
The rebels are expected to seek the release of several Arab terrorists being held in U.S. jails.
The U.S. State Department has ruled out paying ransom or making any deals with the rebels and has said the negotiations are the Philippine government's responsibility.
The Abu Sayyaf group is still holding six other foreigners and 12 Filipinos after freeing six Westerners earlier this week for a reported $6 million bankrolled by Libya.
On Thursday night, Sabaya contacted a negotiator who worked for the release of the earlier hostages and made t4he $10 million ransom demand, a member of the negotiating team said.
He had earlier said that "one American is worth 10 Europeans" in terms of ransom.
Sabaya also asked on Friday for the inclusion in the negotiations of Lee Peng Wee, who helped arrange about $4.5 million in ransom reportedly paid for the earlier release of nine Malaysians, negotiators said.
The request for Lee's involvement suggests that the rebels plan to follow a similar approach with Schilling's kidnapping in which a ransom would be paid by third parties, allowing the U.S. government to maintain its official no-ransom policy.
Sabaya also insisted that North Korea, China, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Libya take part in the negotiations -- a demand Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado called "really out of this world."
Sabaya pledged that "while we are conducting talks ... we will not consider any violence against Mr. Schilling," but warned that "if we lose our patience, then the U.S. will really regret it."
Philippine negotiators hope the Abu Sayyaf will release the six Westerners this weekend, including two French television journalists.
Shilling is being held by a different Abu Sayyaf faction which was responsible for the kidnapping of about 50 schoolchildren and teachers in March on neighboring Basilan island. The group beheaded two teachers after the United States ignored their demand for the release of Arab terrorists, and also tortured and killed a Catholic priest.
Sabaya said the rebels believe Schilling is a CIA agent because he introduced himself as a Muslim convert but knew little about Islam.
In Oakland, Schilling's mother, Carol, said her son converted to Islam several years ago and visited the Philippines partly because of a longtime interest in the region, but stayed after he fell in love with a Muslim woman, Ivi V. Osani.
Osani's mother, Aida Ajijol, said Osani and rebel spokesman Sabaya are second cousins. Sabaya had invited the couple to visit the rebels' camp on Jolo, she said.
Osani said they agreed to go, not realizing that Schilling would be kidnapped.
Critics have warned that the large ransom payments to the rebels will encourage more kidnappings in the impoverished southern Philippines.
The Abu Sayyaf say they are fighting for an Islamic state but Philippine officials say they are a loose group of bandits thriving on kidnapping and piracy.